Cabinet unit with changeable interior



June 3, 1952 G. wise:

CABINET UNIT WITH CHANGEABLE INTERIOR Filed March 14, 194e 3 Sheets-Shea?l l BY P June 3, 1952 G. WISE CABINET UNIT WITH CHANGEABLE INTERIOR 3 Sheets-#Sheet 2 Filed March 14, 1946 Geore Wise.

42 l o"52H" KQJ/o IN VEN TOR.

June 3, 1952 G; wlsE 2,599,504

CABINET UNIT WITH CHANGEABLE INTERIOR Filed March 14, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 26 29 Fg? /3l 24\ o /o o /o o/o/\o /o INVENToR. Geo/s Wise. BY P Wwf/m attorneys Patented June 3, 1952 CABINET UNrr WITH CHANGE-ABLE Y INTERIOR George Wise, Washington, D. C.

Application March 14, 1946, Serial No. 654,429

(Cl. B12- 304) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to cabinets, and more particularly to cabinets adapted for receiving mens or womens toilet articles, although, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, cabinets constructed in conformity with the present invention can be readily adapted to hold firstaid,v medical or other comparable articles.

A cabinet constructed iny conformity with the present invention may be made an integral part of the usual medicine cabinet conventionally installed in bathrooms, or it may be made a separate cabinet.A that can be attached to or recessed into the wall immediately below and constitute an extension of such a medicine cabinet. While contemplated as primarily for association with such a medicine cabinet it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto as it may be embodied in a cabinet that may be mounted on or recessed into a wall at any suitable location Whereshaving ory other toilet articles conventionally used by men, or make-up kits or other suitable toilet articles conventionally used by women, may be desired for convenience. Also, in the broader aspects of the present invention, as will hereinafter appear, the invention can be embodied in what may be characterized as an insert that can be disposed in any, but preferably the lower compartment of a medicine or other suitable cabinet. When associated with a medicine cabinet the conventionally used hinged door, commonly carrying a mirror, may be extended so as to constitute a closure for the cabinet of the present invention, but it is preferred to provide the cabinet of the present invention with its own individual door or closure member, al-

though if preferred it is apparent that the cabinet Z may best suit the convenience or desire of the person or persons using the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type characterized which is so constructed` that it may have a wide variety of internal arrangements of suitable replaceable and interchangeable members for supporting various forms of toilet articles or the like.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a device of the type characterized which is so constructed that the interior thereof may be readily subdivided into a wide variety of compartments, extending vertically or horizontally or both, and of varying sizes if desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device ofl the type characterized which may be readily adapted to receive drawers, boxes, kits, and the like of various sizes and variously arranged.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type characterized which is simple in construction so that it can be readily standardized and easily adapted by unskilled persons to a wide variety of services either before or after installation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type characterized which is economical to produce, strong and rugged in construction, and easily yadaptable to its various uses by ordinary householders.

Other objects will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

of the present invention may be left open in the at the bottom of the cabinet and so arranged that when swung downwardly to wide open position it constitutes a platform or shelf in front of the cabinet, preferably in alignment with the bottom of the cabinet, to receive toilet articles when in use. It is accordingly to be expressly understood that the term cabinet kas herein used, is to be taken as generic to these alternative forms of expression.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cabinet of the character referred to which is so constructed that it provides wide flexibility in its capacity to adaptation to different services, different desired internal arrangements or different dispositions of the contained articles, as

The invention is capable of receiving a variety of embodiments some of which are illustrated on the kaccompanying drawings, but it is to be expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters are used to indicate corresponding parts in the several iigures,

Fig. 1 is a perspective elevation of a more or less conventional medicine cabinet provided with a cabinet embodying the present invention mounted in alignment therewith and constituting an extension thereof;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the embodiment of Fig. 1 on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 but showing the panels in a different position;

F Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-.4 of

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section to 3 illustrate the use of sliding rather than hinged panels;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section to illustrate a provision for supporting a shaving or other toilet kit or similar article;

Figs. '1, 8 and 9 are fragmentary sections to illustrate different manners of holding the panels in position;

Fig. 10 is a somewhat diagrammatic view on a smaller scale to illustrate the inclusion of provisions for subdividing one or more of the compartments vertically;

Fig. 1l is a face View and Fig. 12 is a plan view, both somewhat diagrammatic and to a smaller scale, to illustrate how the present invention may be embodied in an insert for any, but preferably the lower compartment of a medicine or comparable cabinet; and

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view to illustrate one form of adaptor which may be used with the embodiment of Figs. 11 and 12.

While the cabinet of the present invention may be formed as an integral part of a medicine cabinet, to be closed by the usual door thereof or not as preferred, the embodiment of Fig. l shows the cabinet I of the present invention formed separately from, and of suitable size to be aligned with, the medicine cabinet II, for mounting on or recessing into a wall depending -upon the manner of support of the medicine cabinet. As shown, the medicine cabinet has conventional shelves I2 which may be adjustably located by insertion in the grooves I3 of the side pieces I4, and is closed by a door I5 which may, as customary, be provided with a mirror.

As here shown, the cabinet I0 has a front closure member I6 hinged at I1 to the bottom of the cabinet I0 and adapted when in open position to assume a horizontal position as illustrated, constituting a forwardly projecting platform or shelf on which articles in use may be laid. To this end suitable arcuate members I8 are attached to the closure member I6 and cooperate with guide ways and stops (not shown), as well understood in the art, for predetermining and limiting the movement of the closure member I6. Closure member I6 may be provided with a suitable knob or the like 'I9 and as shown in Fig. 4 it may be provided interiorly with suitable locking means 2D for retaining the closure member I6 in its closed position.

Cabinet I0 may be of any suitable construction, being shown as provided with a top wall 2 I, a bottom wall 22, a rear wall 23 and end walls 24 and 25. Said walls may be formed of any suitable material such as wood or the like or of metal sheets with or without a facing of fiber, wood, plastic or other suitable material. If the walls are provided with inner non-metallic facings the provisions for attachment next to be described may be associated exclusively with such facings, but in the embodiments of the invention illustrated it is assumed that each outer wall of the cabinet is respectively formed by a single sheet of suitable material, as metal or wood.

The rear wall 23 of the cabinet is provided with a singular attaching means, a plurality of attaching means or with a plurality of symmetrically arranged groups of attaching means, depending upon the number of panels to be used as will be apparent from the ensuing description, so as to provide for the ready removal and replacement or interchangeable location and arrangement of a plurality of panels or of a single panel of any suitable material. Any suitable attaching means may be used such as the type of panel fasteners shown, for example, in the patent to Dzus, No. 1,955,740, granted April 24, 1934, or they may be snap fasteners, but for simplicity of illustration it has been assumed that the means of attachment shall take the form of screws. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the present invention contemplates the use of any suitable attaching means arranged as hereinafter described to facilitate removal, replacement and relocation of a plurality of panels or of a single panel.

Referring to Fig. 3, where four single panels 28, 29, 30 and 3| are illustrated, although any other suitable number of panels may be used, and if desired two or more single panels as 29 and 30 may be replaced by a larger panel, the rear wall 23 of the cabinet I0 is shown as provided with four sets of four attaching means 21 symmetrically arranged with respect to both vertical and horizontal axes so that four single panels, or a double panel of the combined widths of two panels and two single panels, may be mounted thereby in any desired arrangement. In place of four provisions 21 for each singlepanel any other suitable number may be used if subject to symmetrical arrangement so as to provide for the adjustable positioning of the panels described. When a double panel is used it may be centrally disposed as illustrated with the single panels at either side thereof, or the double panel may be disposed at either end of the back wall of the cabinet with the two single panels at one side thereof. When four single panels are used they may take any arrangement desired with respect to the groups 21. The arrangement of the means for attachment is also preferably such that any of the panels may be inverted or otherwise rearranged or orientated and the attaching means on the wall 23 are still properly located to cooperate with the attaching means carried by such panel.

Assuming the attaching means carried by the panels is to take the form of screws 32 for engagement in openings 21, Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show three different arrangements for attaching the panels to the rear wall 23' of the cabinet. In Fig. '7, wherein it is assumed that the wall 23 is a metal sheet, screw openings 21 are shown as provided in bosses 33 which may be integral with the wall 23 or suitably brazed, soldered or welded thereto, each boss having a threaded opening 34 to receive the threaded shank of a screw 32, the panel 35 having apertures 36 for said screws, which may be either threaded or not as preferred, as well as recesses 31 for the bosses 33. This construction has the advantage that the screw holes do not extend through the exterior wall of the cabinet. In Fig. 8, where the walll 23 may be of wood or other material as well as metal, the wall 23 is provided with threaded apertures 38 and the panel 39 has apertures 36 to receive the screws 32, said apertures 36 being threaded or not as preferred. Fig. 9 illustrates an arrangement which may be employed where the panel is formed of metal, the panel 40 being provided with bosses 4I formed on or attached to said panel 40 and aligned with the bosses 33 on the wall 23, so that the panel 40 and wall 23 may be secured together by the screws 32 cooperating with the apertures in said bosses 33 and 4I, at least the apertures in bosses 33 being threaded.

According to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and whether the panelsl 29 and 3B are made as two panels or integrated into a single double panel, the panels 285 and 3`| are preferably movable in any suitable way to form vertical partitions, being shown as hinged to the vertical edges of the panels 29 and 3B, as indicated at 42v and 43 respectively, any suitable number and location of hinges beingL used as well as any suitable construction of hinge, the hinges being preferably of the type well known in-the art which limits the hinging movement from the position in which the plates of the hinge are in substantial alignment to one in which saidv plates are at right angles to each other.

Therefore, assuming the panels to be in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, either or both of panels 28 and 3|, after removal of the attaching means therefor, may be swung throughv an angle of 90 as indicated by the dotted lines to the dotted line positions designated 44 and 45, so as to subdivide the interior of the cabinet in a horizontal direction as shown in Fig. 3 into three compartments, twol small and one large, which may be variously arranged by variously locating the panels, with or without inverting a panel, as heretofore explained. If preferred, the edges of the panels may be provided with suitable means cooperating with means provided on the bottom of the cabinet, or on bottom panels as hereinafter explained, as indicated at 44' and 45', for locking the panels in their positions at right angles to the rear wall of the cabinet, such for example as the commonly used spring pressed ball and socket. The end walls 24 and 25 of the cabinet may be provided with removable panels. As illustrated, each end wall is provided with a removable panel 45, in which event said panels may be secured in position by any suitable means 41 such as described with reference to the rear panels. When end panels are used as shown, the attaching means therefor are preferably so arranged that the end panels are interchangeable, and they may even be made interchangeable with the rear panels. If desired, the bottom of the cabinet may also be provided with one or more removable panels. As illustrated in Fig. 3, two single width removable panels 48 are shown at thev two extremities of the bottom and a double removable panel 49 is shown at the center of the bottom, although the latter may be replaced by two single panels 48 if preferred, or two double panels 49 may be used, or a single panel may be used which is coextensive with the bottom of the cabinet. Any suitable means 50 may be used for attaching the bottom panel or panels to the bottom of the cabinet such as heretofore described in conjunction with the panels applied to the rear wall of the cabinet. Where a plurality of removable bottom panels are used they are preferably provided with symmetrically arranged attaching means for replacement or interchangement as has heretofore been described with reference to the panels at the rear of the cabinet.

Any or all of the rear panels heretofore described may be provided with any suitable means, such as clips, clasps, hooks or the like, for mounting any desired shaving, ladies toilet or comparable articles. For clarity -of illustration, these supports have been omitted except that one has been diagrammatically indicated at 5 l. The supports used may be such that they can be secured in position by one or more of the screws 32, or longer substitutes therefor, or supports having threaded Shanks may take the place of and perthe supports may be mounted on the panels independently of; the attaching. means therefor. Ink

any event any desired arrangement and location of these severalvarieties of support may be had to meet the convenience or desires of the user or users.

The end panels. mayV also be provided with any suitable means suchl as heretofore referred to for supporting different forms of articles, for example a hook to receive rings, and in place of attaching theend panels to the end walls of the cabinet one. or both of the` end panels may be hinged to thev end wall or walls of the cabinet as indicated in dottedV lines at 52 in Fig. 2, so that such an end panelmay` be swung. about a vertical axisto bring forwardly'for more ready access the articles mounted thereon. Similarly, the bottom panel' or panels may be provided with any suitable supports appropriate for carrying shaving or other toilet or comparable articles. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 6, one of said panels may be provided with a tray 53, or a support or container forl any'suitable kit as fragmentarily indicated at 54', suitable mounting means therefor being diagrammatically indicated at 55, and if desired the latter may be such-that the tray or kit may be moved intoand out of the interior of the cabinet.

InA the embodiment of the invention so farl describedl the movable panels are shown as hinged, but intheA broader aspects of the present invention any other suitable provision for moving the panelswith respect to each other may be employed. Thus in the embodiment of Fig. 5 a pair of panels' 6Uv and l6| are shown as mounted for sliding movementin a suitable groove or grooves 62 so that said panels may be variously positioned along the rear wall of the cabinet by sliding the same, together or relatively to each other, to the desired locations. When such a construction is usedsaid panels are preferably removable when slid to one position and suitable additional grooves 63' extend at right angles to the groove 62 so that when removed a panel 6i) may be slipped into a groove 63 and' compartments may thereby be formed analogously as obtained by the hinging of the panels in the embodiment of `Figs. 2 and 3.

In the embodiments of the invention so far described' theprovisions for subdividing the interior of the cabinet into compartments have been concerned only with the formation of horizontally arranged compartments. However, as diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 10, the invention may be embodied in constructions which include provisions for the formation of vertically related compartments, or for both vertically and horizontally related compartments, the hinges providing the vertical axes of movement being suitably rearranged so as not to interfere with the movement about horizontal axes next to be referred to. Referring to Fig. 10 which also employs four replaceable and interchangeable single panels at the rear Wall as in the embodiment of Figs. 2 and 3, any one or more of said panels may be` provided at any suitable location with a hinge' or -hinges for movement of a portion of *the panel about a horizontal axis after removal of some of the attaching means. panels 2t'v and 3l is provided with a horizontal hinge 54 midway of its height while each of panels 29 and 30 is provided with a horizontal hinge 65 at about a quarter of its height, although by inverting these latter panels the hinge would be disposed at about three quarters of its height. If preferred, Athe hinges of all of the panels may be similarly located, or they may all As shown, each of have' different relative locations, or any one or more of the panels may omit the provision for horizontal movement of a section thereof. Any suitable means such as heretofore referred to may be associated with the hinged section for retaining it in its partition forming position. The provisions for horizontal hinging may be the sole provision for adjusting the subdivision of the interior of the cabinet, but as illustrated in Fig. 10 the hinges 64 and 65 may be associated'with hinges 66 and 61 between the vertical edges of one or both of the panels 28 and 29, on the one hand, and 3E) and 3l, on the other hand, so that flexibility of subdivision may be obtained by combining movements about vertical as well as horizontal axes, appropriate forms of hinges being used as well understood in the art to provide for the relative movement of the panels and the sections of panels into the various positions which it is desired that they assume. Therefore, by moving one or more of the panel sections about horizontal axes the interior of the cabinet may be subdivided into vertical compartments which may afford shelves for supporting shaving or other toilet articles or the like, or one or more of the compartments so formed may be of appropriate size to receive one or more standard sized drawers for any suitable purpose. In place of hinging the panels horizontally appropriate vertical panels may be provided with grooves so as to receive shelves, drawer supports or the like.

The embodiment of Figs. 11, 12 and 13 illustrates how the present invention may be in corporated in a cabinet in the form of an insert which may be introduced into any, but preferably the lower compartment of a medicine or other suitable cabinet. While in this embodiment of the invention as illustrated the insert is shown as of a horizontal width equivalent to two panels as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the insert may be made of any suitable horizontal width up to the full width of the cabinet. Such an insert may be a complete cabinet but as preferably formed it has the end walls omitted. Referring to Figs. 11, 12 and 13, and assuming that 69 designates the lower compartment in a medicine cabinet, the insert is shown as composed of tcp and bottom walls 10 and a rear wall 1| carrying a pair of vertical panels 12 and 'i3 suitably hinged thereon for movement about vertical axes so that they may be folded back against the rear wall 'Il or be moved into the dotted line positions indicated in Fig. l2 to subdivide the bottom compartment of the medicine cabinet into a plurality of compartments in a horizontal direction. If preferred the panels may also be suitably formed and hinged so that they may be moved through an angle of 180 from the position shown in Fig. 11. One or both of these panels mayalso be provided with horizontal hinges 16 so that by movement of a panel section about a horizontal axis a shelf may be formed or vertically arranged compartments formed analogously as in the embodiment of Fig. 10.

Such an insert may merely rest on the bottom wall of the cabinet or any suitable adaptor may be employed for mounting the insert slidably in the bottom compartment of the cabinet so that the insert may be slid into and out of position and also moved outwardly to some extent to facilitate access to whatever is carried thereby. As shown fragmentarily in Fig. 13, the bottom of the cabinet has attached thereto in any suitable way a U-shaped member 11, while the bottom wall'10 of the insert has attached thereto, as by the attaching means 18, a similar but inverted U-shaped member 19 the lower leaf of which can enter the cavity in member 11 while the upper leaf thereof slides on top of the member 11. The adaptor so provided affords a ready means for installing the insert on the bottom wall of the cabinet while permitting the insert to be drawn part way out for more ready access to the articles thereon.

It will therefore be perceived that by the present invention a cabinet has been provided which may be associated with a medicine cabinet or used separately and which is so constructed that it is highly flexible in adaptation to a wide variety of uses depending upon whether it is to be used by a man or by a woman or by both. By selectively arranging, with inversion if necessary, the several panels, and if desired moving some of them to form either or both vertical or horizontal partitions, the cabinet can be readily provided with a wide variety of internal arrangements with respect to the relative disposition of the toilet articles carried by the panels as well as to provide vertical and horizontally related compartments, partitions, shelves, drawer spaces, etc. At the same time the cabinet readily lends itself to standardized construction so that it may be economically produced in quantity and then adjusted to obtain the desired internal arrangement before or after installation. Also the cabinet is of rugged and durable construction, and the adjustments provided are all such as may be readily carried out within the skill of usual householders.

While the embodiments of the invention illustrated on the drawings have been described with considerable particularity, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto as the same may be embodied in a wide variety of forms as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art, while changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement, proportion, material, etc., and any suitable article supports, attaching means, hinges, etc., may be used, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims for a definition of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A cabinet unit forming a substantially rigid structure, said cabinet unit including at least one exterior confining wall member having at least one panel member hinged to the inner surface thereof and swingable into a position at an angle to said exterior confining wall member, means for retaining said panel member in a stationary position when said panel member is swung at an angle to said exterior confining wall member, attaching means on the inner surface of said exterior confining wall member and attaching means on said panel member corresponding in number and location to said attaching means on said exterior confining wall member for interlocking and detachable engagement therewith, said attaching means on said panel member and on said exterior confining wall member being located remote from the pivot line of said hinged panel member, said attaching means on said exterior confining wall member being capable of association with article-holding means and cooperating with and supplementing said attaching means on said panel member in providing changeable interior arrangements with supports for holding articles to be stored in said cabinet unit when said panel member is either in an attached position fiat against the inner surface of said exterior conning wall member or in a detached position at an angle to said exterior confining wall member.

2. A cabinet unit as dened in claim 1 in which said attaching means on said panel member is associated with an article-support.

3. A cabinet unit as defined in claim 1 in which said attaching means on said exterior conning wall member and said corresponding attaching means on said panel member are both associated with an article-support when said exterior conning wall member and said panel member are in an attached position.

1. A cabinet unit as defined in claim 1 in which two or more panel members are provided, said panel members being replaceably and interchangeably secured to said exterior confining wall member.

5. A cabinet unit forming a substantially rigid structure, said cabinet unit having at least one exterior confining wall member, a panel member hinged on a vertical axis to the inner surface of said exterior confining wall member and an article-support having a threaded portion protruding through said panel member into said exterior confining wall membex` When said panel member is in an attached position fiat against said exterior confining wall member.

6. A cabinet unit forming a substantially rigid structure, said cabinet unit including at least one exterior panel member, a second panel member hinged interiorly thereto and an articlesupport, said article-support having panel engag- 5` ing means on its end opposite the article-holding means, said article-support protruding through said panel member into said exterior confining wall member when said panel member is in an attached position flat against the inner surface of said exterior confining wall member.

7. A cabinet unit as defined in claim 6 in which said panel engaging means on said article-support permits said article-support to be retained on said panel member when said panel member and said exterior confining Wall member are in a detached position.

8. A cabinet unit as defined in claim 6 in which said panel engaging means on said article-support permits said article-support to be retained on said exterior conning wall member When said panel member and said exterior confining wall member are in a. detached position.

GEORGE WISE.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 110,991 Miller Jan. 17, 1871 192,618 Connor July 3, 1877 596,263 Fits Dec. 28, 1897 680,206 La Mar Aug. 6, 1901 937,890 Swinney Oct. 26, 1909 1,005,985 Lebherz Oct. 17, 1911 1,266,375 Adams May 14, 1918 1,416,969 OConnor May 23, 1922 1,428,867 Taylor Sept. 12, 1922 1,465,288 Schwarze Aug. 21, 1923 1,559,873 Humphreys Nov. 3, 1925 1,773,684 Kolber Aug. 19, 1930 2,135,118 ,Stewart Nov. l, 1938 2,210,235 Filbert Aug. 6, 1961-0 2,397,930 Dodegge Apr. 9, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 109,663 Austria May 25, 1928 247,622 Great Britain Feb. 15, 1926 293,507 Germany Aug. 15, 1916 564,904 Great Britain Oct. 18, 1944 

